A Brother's Love - Book 3 - The Frencolian Chronicles (complete)

Chapter Six

 The royal family had been in residence at the manor house in Chanoine for a week before word was received from the king that the disease had been confirmed as the same plague that had swept Spenola the previous year and was still rampant in that kingdom.

People believed 'God's Back' had also turned against Frencolia.

A state of emergency was proclaimed. All border crossings were closed.

Curfews were declared in all districts and citizens were banned from travel within Frencolia, either by day or at night.

The only ones permitted to be out on the roads were the Frencolian knights who would ride as messengers, carrying urgent news and communications from one village to the other.

So far, no plague-like illnesses had been reported in the Chanoine district, and the queen and royal children remained in the manor house, hoping, with their father the king, that 'God's Back' would not turn against them here.

The state of affairs in the capital was appalling, and everyone shuddered to think of a mass grave being dug to bury large numbers of dead city-dwellers. The plague was no respecter of persons and young, old, rich and poor were being buried in their dozens.

King Leopold wrote, commanding Chatelain to announce that the king supported public prayers to be said to the Almighty, in the hope He might turn around and cease His judgment of death upon the citizens living in their kingdom.

All districts in the South now suffered from the epidemic. Westbrook, to the North of Chanoine had been affected immediately after Frencberg.

When the news came that Valdemar and Leroy in the North and their delegated Border Castles all had fatalities, the king cancelled his contingency plan and commanded that his wife and children remain at Chanoine.

Chatelain wrote to the king, telling his cousin about the extensions to Shepherd John's home and stating that he could have more rooms added, so that if Leopold wished, his family could be transferred there if the illness struck Chanoine.

The baron was fervently praying that they would be spared, but he announced, "God must not be blamed for this plague: He has made adequate arrangements for everyone's eternal security. It is time to search our souls and be sure that we are ready and prepared to leave this life for the wonder of eternal life in God's Heaven. By believing in God's Son, Jesus the Christ, and Him alone for our salvation, putting all faith in Him, turning from all wickedness, you can be saved and have eternal life."

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Jobyna was helping to pod peas.

Having pleaded to her mother she be permitted to 'escape' from Cousin Stella's ceaseless, idle chatter, Elissa suggested, "Go and help out, in the kitchen or scullery. The princess will never think of looking for you there and I know you enjoy working there with Mavis and the others."

The baroness was wrong. Stella stole out through the kitchens, hunting Jobyna. She found her, out in a huge porch-like area where vegetables such as onions and seed pods hung.

Jobyna worked on a huge basket of peas to be podded that would be dried for the winter. "If you sit here, Princess, you have to help," Jobyna declared.

But the princess only podded the peas she wanted to eat while her two ladies-in-waiting stared in disgust.

"This one has thirteen peas," Jobyna announced, issuing a challenge, "I've got the one with the most."

The princess didn't take up the challenge but stared enviously at Jobyna's hair. The sun shone on it and fiery shades of orange and red glistened and glowed, shades Stella had only ever seen in a rose, a jewel, or a brilliant sunset.